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Facing up to the cameras in the Britannia Stadium's media room, the Liverpool FC manager wore the look of a broken man. His eyes moist, his face etched with pain, he attempted to explain away the most humiliating day of his career.

To his credit, he ducked none of the questions which, inevitably, came his way. He spoke of letting the supporters down, he acknowledged that the criticism levelled at him from the away end at half and full time had been deserved, and he admitted his own position, surely, would be under scrutiny in the wake of a six-goal shelling.

“That was my worst day in football by a long way,” he said this week. “I take total responsibility for it. I don’t want to experience anything like that again in my career.”

Now, a little under three months later, Rodgers returns to the scene. And he returns knowing he is under more pressure now than at any other point in his Anfield reign.

Lose again today and the questions will return. Liverpool have, on paper, a tough start to the campaign; they can ill afford to start losing ground this early on.

No excuses

It is impossible to defend what happened the last time the Reds visited Stoke – and in fairness, nobody from the club has even tried to – but there is a sense that they return to the Britannia today in a far better state, both on and off the field.

Rodgers' position looked under threat in May, but he has been backed throughout the summer, both in terms of his job and the tools he has to do it.

The excuses, the mitigation, they have been removed. Liverpool have landed every one of their main summer transfer targets, they have added Premier League nous and experience as well as youthful potential. In Christian Benteke, they hope they have solved their long-standing striker issues.

It is incredible to think that when Liverpool were at the Britannia last, they started the game without a single recognised forward. Unsurprisingly, a pairing of Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana looked rather powderpuff, when put up against the physicality of Ryan Shawcross and co.

It should be different this time. Benteke, despite a disjointed pre-season, is likely to lead the line this afternoon, with Lallana, Coutinho and one more, probably Jordon Ibe, buzzing around in support.

And with new boys Roberto Firmino, Divock Origi and Danny Ings all in reserve, as well as £20m man Lazar Markovic, Liverpool's bench provides more options now than it ever did last season.

Jordan Henderson and Christian Benteke of Liverpool laughing during a training session at Melwood

Mental scarring?

Of course one of the more intriguing sub-plots surrounds the psychological effect a 6-1 defeat can have on a team.

Rodgers will, we expect, start with at least five players who began the game in May. All will be desperate to make amends but wary, surely, of just how quickly things can unravel.

Adam Lallana spoke on Friday of how the memories had haunted him throughout the summer, while Emre Can has referred to “owing” supporters a performance.

Rodgers, though, has described it as a “perfect” fixture with which to start the season, a chance to change both the narrative and the mood around the club. Don't underestimate the value of a victory in the Potteries.

To get it, though, Liverpool will need to show everything that was lacking last time. They must work harder, they must be better organised, they must battle and scrap and believe in themselves, and they must not allow their heads to drop. Of all the humiliations in May, it was the lack of fight which most offended supporters.

Nathaniel Clyne battles with Glen Johnson during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Southampton at Anfield on August 17, 2014. Clyne is set to replace Johnson at Anfield

New Liverpool, new Stoke?

It won't be an easy task, by any means. Stoke may not be the same “up and at 'em” style team of the Tony Pulis era, but they are one of the better ones in the Premier League, and the Britannia remains one of the more intimidating away venues.

They will be weakened by the absence of captain Shawcross, who has a back problem, and by the summer departures of Asmir Begovic and Steven Nzonzi – the latter of which dominated the game in May – but they, like Liverpool, believe they have recruited well in the summer.

They have added experience in Glen Johnson and Shay Given, potential in Marco Van Ginkel, and a dash of the unknown in Spanish striker Joselu and Ibrahim Afellay, the former Barcelona midfielder. They also have Bojan Krkic, their most talented player, available again after a lengthy injury lay-off.

All in all, it makes for an intriguing contest. Rodgers insists that Stoke will have it harder this time than they did last. Then again, that won't be difficult.